It can go both ways, at least in my situation. My husband died five weeks ago. My two brothers, who had ignored us for several years, called when they heard of his death. (I just wish my darling could know they have been in touch. He was their big brother for 60 years.)
What really gets me, though, is that my husband's ONLY relative (beyond his children, etc.) is a half brother who has not made contact with me even though our son called him five minutes after the death. I'm working myself toward contacting him because just maybe my husband would have wanted that.
I have been shocked by the behavior of one woman who has actually attacked me three times related to the fact that I did not personally notify her of the stages of Dick's illness and death (hospitalizations, palliative care, Hospice). And then she told several of my friends that I did not want phone calls! I need help to deal with this in a way that leads me to letting go of it.
Okay. Those are my gripes. I am reaching out, a little at a time, to fill my empty hours with being useful to others who need attention. I have learned a lot about that already.